Forrester Research offers five timely pieces of advice on recession-time software vendor management, including: how to negotiate contracts, avoid lock-in, tap into best of breed apps and reduce ERP maintenance costs.

Forrester's five tips to create a recession-proof ERP vendor strategy:

1. Avoid sole-sourcing vendor lock-in by separating application decisions.
2. Be open to best-of-breed applications outside the core.
3. Prepare for software contract renegotiations.
4. Contain escalating maintenance costs.
5. Check out third-party maintenance.

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